What It’s Like to Cruise the Great Lakes with Victory
Who knew that you could cruise the Great Lakes for your summer vacation?
Well, I didn’t. At least not until Victory Cruise Lines invited me to join the inaugural sailing of the Victory II for a 9-night boutique cruise on the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes from Montreal, Quebec to Detroit, Michigan.
What makes it a “boutique cruise”?
The size of the ship, for one thing, and the ratio of crew to passengers. Built to resemble a coastal steamer from the 1900s, the Victory II carries a maximum of 202 guests, with a staff of 80.
Another thing, and it’s a big one, is that virtually everything is included – – food, drinks (including alcohol) and the excursions in every port.
That is truly something different.
The Victory Experience
The focus of Victory Cruises is on providing local experiences in the 7 ports along the Seaway, Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. As Bruce Nierenberg, Chairman of Victory Cruise Lines said in a talk onboard, the goal is to provide an “immersive experience” specifically designed for the baby boomer crowd. Indeed, many of the passengers were retirees from the U.S. who were excited to see the Canadian destinations.
But the journey is just as interesting. North America’s Great Lakes represent the largest freshwater system on earth. To cruise from Montreal to Detroit, our captain had to navigate through 15 locks, designed to lift or lower ships through the waterways. Some of them are only 30 feet wide!
The small size of the ship fosters a friendly atmosphere and, in no time, I was seeing familiar faces among the passengers and the staff and making many new friends.
Comfy Cabins
My cabin on the lower level, with its two lakeview windows was very comfortable and I slept well on the 100 per cent Egyptian cotton bedding. All amenities are provided, including shampoo, plush towels, robe and slippers. At 134 square feet, the cabin was fine for me but may have been a bit cozy for more than one person, although there was plenty of storage.
Given that this was the first voyage of the Victory II, there were some final touches still to be completed and a few challenges, such as key cards that didn’t work, however, most of these issues were ironed out by the end of the cruise.
Dining and other treats
The dining options on board were a real highlight. Victory Cruises, you had me at scones and clotted cream – – one of my favourites! There were three themed high teas served in the main lounge during the cruise: British Royal, Maharaja and Viennese. I’m all about those scones and pastries – – compliments to the pastry chef! If the cruise had been any longer than 10 days, I would have had to buy bigger clothes.
For meals, I could choose either the Shearwater Dining Lounge or the Cliff Rock Bar and Grille with panoramic floor to ceiling windows. Although the latter required a reservation, there was never a wait to get into either restaurant and you could sit with anyone of your choice.
The service could have used a little more polish, which will likely come with experience, but the food was excellent. My favourites were the lobster tails and cheeses from Quebec. The sommelier served a selection of wines each day, but other options were always available to suit my taste.
Cliff Rock Bar & Grille
Destinations and Excursions:
My main reason for traveling is to see and learn more about the world, and in this regard, the excursions by Victory Cruise Lines excel. In each case, the tours, mostly via coach, were led by local guides that provide plenty of information and local flavour about the destination.
Montreal
In Quebec’s largest city, we visited some of its iconic neighbourhoods like Mount Royal (after which the city is named) and Le Plateau. I enjoyed a walk through the Montreal Botanical Garden, one of the largest in the world, and a skip-the-line visit to the stunning Notre Dame Basilica. See my post on the most Instagram worthy places in Montreal here.
One of the unique advantages of the Victory cruise is that we stayed in port overnight – – a fun opportunity to enjoy the summer festival-like atmosphere in the city.
Quebec City
Old Quebec City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the birthplace of French civilization in North America, dating back four centuries. And, with its cobblestone streets and fantastic French food, it never fails to charm.
We spent two days in port in Quebec City, and, a first for me, had the thrill of walking the boardwalk above Montmorency Falls. This waterfall is actually 1.5 times higher than Niagara Falls.
Kingston, Ontario
The quaint city of Kingston on Lake Ontario has a decidedly British flavour because of its past strategic military importance. This is where you’ll find the entrance to the Rideau Canal which connects to Canada’s capital, Ottawa. It’s Ontario’s only UNESCO World Heritage site. We visited the Canal locks, a marvel of engineering, which are still opened by hand by the local lock master. We toured Fort Henry, built to protect the canal, and learned about a dark chapter in Canada’s history at the Kingston Penitentiary Museum. The maximum security prison used to be home to Canada’s most notorious criminals.
Toronto
In Canada’s largest city, we visited an eclectic mix of neighbourhoods and sites, including City Hall, the newly famous dog-statue fountain, the Hockey Hall of Fame and the St. Lawrence Market (where I could not resist a Canadian favourite, a butter tart). In the afternoon, we were treated to a private, guided tour of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), home to 95,000 works of art.
Port Colborne/Niagara
What a thrill to take the ‘Hornblower Voyage of the Falls’ into the mist of Horseshoe Falls at Niagara. As we were enveloped by the spray at the base of the falls, we could only hear the excited shouts of passengers and the thundering of the water. It was a bad hair day, but it didn’t matter.
Afterwards, we enjoyed a delightful lunch and wine tasting in the vineyards at the Château des Charmes estate and a stroll along the flower-filled streets of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Cleveland
It’s not just a saying – – Cleveland really does rock! Set on the shores of Lake Erie, Cleveland might be best known as home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, by architect I.M. Pei. Yes, I saw Michael Jackson’s sparkly glove, but I didn’t realize that there is so much more to see and do in Cleveland.
Touring the city on “Lolly the Trolley”, we stopped at the 1912 landmark West Side Market to ogle the tempting baked treats, take a quick look inside the amazing Cleveland Museum of Art, and marvel at the stained glass masterpieces in the chapel at the Lake View Cemetery. It’s a revitalized city that I’d love to visit again.
Detroit
The cruise ended in Detroit, but I took the opportunity to stay an extra day to see this fascinating city of motors and Motown. The city, which filed for bankruptcy in 2013, is making a comeback. It can be seen in the vibrant art scene, both on the street and at the Detroit Institute of the Arts, its new sports arenas and its iconic displays of Americana at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, as well as the Motown Museum.
A win for Victory
Victory Chairman Bruce Nierenberg says he expects that the “bumps” encountered during the inaugural sailing of the Victory II will soon be worked out. As well, the Cruise Lines plans to add more “cultural enrichment”, including port talks and additional “special local experiences” in the destinations.
Certainly, the unique itinerary, which offers plenty of opportunities to explore the ports along the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes, is a highlight of the trip. Combined with the the delicious food and the all-inclusive value, it’s a perfect fit for baby boomer travelers who seek a comfortable and friendly small-ship approach to cruising.
More Information:
Cruise Details: Victory Cruise Lines
Tourism Information: Quebec Tourism, Ontario Tourism, This is Cleveland, Visit Detroit
Suggested Reading: Fodor’s Montreal and Quebec City (Full-color Travel Guide), 
Travel Bliss Now was a guest of Victory Cruise Lines, but my opinions are always my own.
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Looks very interesting!
Thanks Null! I really enjoyed it, especially the destination tours and the food!
That cruise hits some great towns along the way. I’ve recently spent a few days in Detroit. I absolutely love Quebec City. I wonder if they’ll ever go as far as Mackinaw Island?
I enjoyed the article. You’ve got me interested.
Thanks Drew! Quebec City is a favourite of mine too! Yes, they do have a couple of itineraries that cover all five Great Lakes, including Mackinac Island.
This is such a fascinating option that I never even knew existed. I love that they take you up into Canada to see Toronto and Quebec. I have added this to the bucket list. Also the food looks amazing on there!
Thanks Stephanie! Yes, the food was amazing, especially those pastries!
I never knew about this cruise line, nor the itinerary. Looks like a wonderful experience! Will need to look into them!
Thanks Laura! It was a great experience. They also have other itineraries on the Great Lakes, east coast, the Yucatan and Cuba.
I never would have thought there would be so much to do along the Great Lakes. Now I’d honestly consider taking one of these cruises. Be a nice getaway! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Kenan! There are tons of interesting places along the Great Lakes and great scenery too!
I have never heard of a Great Lakes cruise but wow this makes sense. Neat way to see a special region of the US.
Thanks Ryan! I really enjoyed the ports in the U.S. and in Canada.
I found that really interesting to read, what a great and convenient way to travel, and you get to see so many places on the way too! It’s amazing that you get everything included on the cruise, even the tours at each location. The photo of the ship does look quite small, can’t believe that it allows around 200 guests and 80 staff! That’s loads.
Thanks for the great read 🙂
Thank you! It is a great way to travel. Even though the ship is relatively small, it never felt crowded and there was never any lining up or waiting for anything.
I think exploring the Great Lakes through a cruise is such a great idea. It sure looks like fun and a unique experience.
Thanks Karie! I had a lot of fun meeting the people on board and exploring the ports on this cruise.
I driving along the St Lawerence and the area looks beautiful, bu twhat better way to do this than a cruise. Would seriously consider this on my next visit. 🙂
Thanks Danik! It is a fantastic way to see this region.
Man I could scratch off so many Bucket List items off my list with a Great Lakes Cruise with the Victory Cruise Lines! I hope they have a nice gym aboard cause I would eat my weight in all of that amazing looking food. Also those excursions to Quebec City, Detroit, Cleveland, and Kingston Ontario would be a lot of fun. But to see Niagra….I am in!
Niagara Falls is really a thrill! Given the size of the ship, there is no gym on board, but you can always dance the night away!
Wow, what a journey on a luxury cruise. Port Colborne is splendid with Niagara Falls. Also, I would love to see Quebec city and Cleaveland.
Thanks Yukti! Good choices! Niagara Falls is really impressive, especially when you get close to them. Quebec City is favourite of mine and I’d like to see more of Cleveland.
I had no idea that you could take a cruise on the great lakes! That’s such a neat idea! And I love that this cruise sounds much less commercial than typical ones. All of those destinations are so underrated, I think this is a great way to raise their profile. Quebec City is one that I’ve always wanted to visit but just haven’t made it to yet.
Thanks Maggie! The destinations were a highlight and, of course, Quebec City is unique and wonderful.
I have never been on a cruise, but I am sure interested in taking a short one though. The cruise looks luxurious, and food sumptuous. Does Victory Cruise operate anywhere in Asia? Also, how much time you spent in each city during the cruise tour?
Thanks Shivani. Currently, Victory Cruise Lines only operates on the Great Lakes, east coast of Canada and the U.S., Mexico and Cuba (including a short getaway from Miami). We spent two days in each of Montreal and Quebec City, and one day in all of the other ports.
What is the ship movement like on the Great Lakes? I easily get seasick. More like an ocean cruise or a river cruise? Thanks!
Hi Margie, I get seasick too and I had no problem on the Great Lakes. I’d say it’s more like a river cruise also since you go on the canals connecting the lakes for some of it. Of course, it may always be weather dependent on the big lakes.